Comments on: The President’s options in Afghanistan http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/11/12/the-presidents-options-in-afghanistan/ Conservative Party Candidate for Wokingham Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:39:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: P H Newall http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/11/12/the-presidents-options-in-afghanistan/#comment-49079 P H Newall Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:29:03 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4935#comment-49079 Surely history aught to tell our policy makers that the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable. The proclaimed reason for our being there is that it will prevent terrorist acts in Britain. A more pathetic reason for the sacrifice of over 200 British soldiers' lives I cannot imagine. It is of the same genre as saying Saddam Hussein could send a nucler bomb to Britain in 45 minutes! Preventing terrorism in Britain should surely be right here in Britain. We should withdraw our troops from Afghanistan a.s.a.p. It is true that we will suffer some humiliation because we have not decisively won a victory over the Taliban or over the hearts and minds of the people there. That's too bad, and we should never have got ourselves into this mess in the first place. We gave up our Empire half a century ago. Britain should keep her nose out of other countries business, and concentrate only on developing trade with them, and getting her own house in order - there is plenty to do in that respect. Surely history aught to tell our policy makers that the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable.

The proclaimed reason for our being there is that it will prevent terrorist acts in Britain. A more pathetic reason for the sacrifice of over 200 British soldiers’ lives I cannot imagine. It is of the same genre as saying Saddam Hussein could send a nucler bomb to Britain in 45 minutes! Preventing terrorism in Britain should surely be right here in Britain.

We should withdraw our troops from Afghanistan a.s.a.p. It is true that we will suffer some humiliation because we have not decisively won a victory over the Taliban or over the hearts and minds of the people there. That’s too bad, and we should never have got ourselves into this mess in the first place.

We gave up our Empire half a century ago. Britain should keep her nose out of other countries business, and concentrate only on developing trade with them, and getting her own house in order – there is plenty to do in that respect.

]]> By: Brian Tomkinson http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/11/12/the-presidents-options-in-afghanistan/#comment-49011 Brian Tomkinson Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:28:48 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4935#comment-49011 We still haven't been given the real reasons why we are in Afghanistan and what conditions would allow troop withdrawals. We are told that our troops' presence is necessary to keep terrorism from the streets of Britain and that if the Taliban were allowed to succeed then Al-Qaeda would return to Afghanistan from Pakistan. Why should they want to do that? Furthermore, we are then warned that because Afghanistan is next to Pakistan with nuclear weapons that would be a much greater threat. How could it be greater than the threat presented right now if Al-Qaeda is in Pakistan? Failure to explain the real reason for the presence of NATO troops is leading to a lack of public support. Isn't the nub of this problem really the future of Pakistan? We still haven’t been given the real reasons why we are in Afghanistan and what conditions would allow troop withdrawals. We are told that our troops’ presence is necessary to keep terrorism from the streets of Britain and that if the Taliban were allowed to succeed then Al-Qaeda would return to Afghanistan from Pakistan. Why should they want to do that? Furthermore, we are then warned that because Afghanistan is next to Pakistan with nuclear weapons that would be a much greater threat. How could it be greater than the threat presented right now if Al-Qaeda is in Pakistan? Failure to explain the real reason for the presence of NATO troops is leading to a lack of public support. Isn’t the nub of this problem really the future of Pakistan?

]]> By: Scott http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/11/12/the-presidents-options-in-afghanistan/#comment-48993 Scott Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:36:38 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4935#comment-48993 Unless we develop a comprehensive South Asia strategy, the most we can hope for is a temporary peace in Afghanistan. What would such a strategy look like? Well, at the very least it requires some moderation of the strategic competition between India and Pakistan. Without attention to this aspect of the problem, we really are only playing around at the edges of the conflict. Unless we develop a comprehensive South Asia strategy, the most we can hope for is a temporary peace in Afghanistan.

What would such a strategy look like? Well, at the very least it requires some moderation of the strategic competition between India and Pakistan. Without attention to this aspect of the problem, we really are only playing around at the edges of the conflict.

]]> By: Mike Stallard http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/11/12/the-presidents-options-in-afghanistan/#comment-48985 Mike Stallard Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:03:42 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4935#comment-48985 Recent articles in the paper have shown that there is some hope of common sense prevailing. Personally, I am in favour of a huge surge with garrisons - warmly supported by the British with lots of troops. That, in the end, is the only answer and it has worked in the past. Afghans respect a powerful and fair administration which has honour and might. Fat chance! Both Britain and America are skint and heavily in debt! So, I suspect what will happen is: No 6. And what will our Pakistani allies have to say about that as they advance towards the Afghan border? Recent articles in the paper have shown that there is some hope of common sense prevailing.
Personally, I am in favour of a huge surge with garrisons – warmly supported by the British with lots of troops. That, in the end, is the only answer and it has worked in the past. Afghans respect a powerful and fair administration which has honour and might.
Fat chance!
Both Britain and America are skint and heavily in debt!
So, I suspect what will happen is:
No 6.
And what will our Pakistani allies have to say about that as they advance towards the Afghan border?

]]> By: Captain Baines http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/11/12/the-presidents-options-in-afghanistan/#comment-48976 Captain Baines Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:40:36 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4935#comment-48976 " In such a world of conflict, a world of victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners." - Albert Camus ” In such a world of conflict, a world of victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners.” – Albert Camus

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